Scooter car chassis and truck



Sept. 2l, 1943.

J. M. RODRIGUEZ SCOOTER CAR CHASSIS AND TRUCK Filed June 21, 1941 3 Sheets-*Sheet 1 'IITNESSES 5MM y W/ffff Sept. 21, 19.43. J. M. RODRIGUEZ 2,330,147

l SCOOTER CAR CHASSIS AND TRUCK I Filed June 21, 1941 s sheets-sheet 2 Sept' 2.1, 1943- J. M. RODRIGUEZ 2,330,147

' SCOOTER CAR CHASSIS AND TRUCK Filed June 2l, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v? Eus 153.20

271, @-35 as-Q +21 -l g so Patented Sept. 21, 1943 UNITEDl STAT-ES PAT-ENT FFICE 1 A fassodn I SCOOTER CHAs'sisrRuCK' t vJoseph M.RodrguezBrooklyn,N; l I vAppnicatifm June 21, 1941, serialNo.,399,`1o7`.f 2 Claims. (c1. 28osmh This invention relates to a new type chassis and trucks for scooterzvehiclesor coasters popular with children as a toy vehicle and of the four wheel typeand so constructed that it can be propelled over the side walk or street pavement space, and the construction of the vtrucks supA porting the wheels, which is explained in detail below is constructed in such a way, that by only tilting the vertical arm with handles laterallyto the right or left, will cause the wheels to turn to either direction without any tendency of over turning, being that same is of the four wheel type, and therefore any child will be ablev to ride same with ease, ,e

The important object of the invention-is to provide a combination vehiclel of the character' described consisting of a chassis embodying novel wheel mountings -which consists of two trucks.,

n in Fig. 1.

one of which with two rubber cushion tire wheels I is fastened to and under the front end of the wood or metal. Another truck of the same conchassis, said chassis can be made of either hardare fastened to said chassis by means of bolts.`

This is clearly shown inthe. accompanying drawings. i f

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a chassis of ythe*aforementioned character with a semi-soft rubbervpadhontop of same as a shock absorbing meansvon to which the platform or footboardl'of the scooter isfas.- tened. Said rubber pad'eliminates the transmission of vibration from the wheels to' the platform caused by running the scooter overr rough surface and passing over .joints inthe street pavements and sidewalks. i f,

A further aim ofthe ,invention is togprovide a chassis and ,trucksv for scooter vvehicles @fg-the type described, which is very simple in-,construc. tion and the wearing partsof the truckcan be replaced at a verylow. cost.A It is builtstrong, that'it will withstand rough handling; andlany child vcan'ride it, and ndit `of great amuse-g ment. vrlitis also compact, light in weight, and it canbe manufactured at a low cost. y Y With 4the above,v andzother objects of my invention in k.view,- same consists inthe features -of4 construction,l combination and arrangement .of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, as illustrated lin the accomrpanying drawings, showing the vpreferred embodi- `ment ofthe invention, vand pointed. outin the claims, hereuntoappended.

It isunderstood vof course, that Changesvariationsy and modifications may be made in the in- `vention, vas rcomeproperly within the Y, scope, of the, appended claims without departing from the spirit VAofthe invention orv sacrificing any of `its advantage.v fIn the accompanying drawings: v f Y Figyl isa side elevation ofthe scootershowing the chassisandtrucks constructed in accordance .withtheinventiom .I

` Fig. 12 is laffront elevation of thescooter illustrained in Fig. 1.,.y EigzY 3 is a planview'of the scooter illustrated Fig. 4'is .an enlarged fragmentary `detail View vofa sidek sectionalelevation ofthe front portion off the. platform, mounted A,en the front part yof the chassis. with ,the rubber'rpadvin betweenfor shock absorbing, and showing `thefconstruction `of the truckpf invention. ,Fig.r5 'is, an enlarged fragmentarydetail front elevation" of `theplatform mounted on the rubber pad and chassis with the truckwith wheels fastened Vtoj same, c ,y .Y e 1*ig..6 is an. enlargedr fragmentary detail front elevationof the platform tilted withthe chassis ,with truckI andwhe'els fastened to same, and yshowing the turning position of themlower part of` thetruck with wheels ,when the platform..is l"tiltedas'shown,I j.

Figzgl is aside elevational view of. the upper lsection or frame of thetruck of my invention. Figlf ris a. front elevational-view thereof.

[Fig 9 is a planview of the upper section of A `tliejtruclrframe"g Y ,i

.` A .i 101s aside elevational View, Vofthe inverted U-shape steel strap, whichis fastened in an `in- 'Zclined' hangingposition `frorrrthe base of the upper section truck frame, and 1which supports slidingly into slots' cut longitudinally in the center of both leg's'the" lower section of the truckframe l by means of "a king bolt@ "fFig.' 1111s a side elevationaly view of same, showing thefpositionof the slots cut into the hanging ends ofsamef *f f l f f Fig. 12 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 13 is a side elevational View of the bottom section of the truck frame which supports the wheels.

Fig. 14 is a front elevational view of the bottom section of the truck frame.

Fig. 15 is a plan View thereof.

Fig. 16 is the sliding shoe fastened to the bottom outside part of the top section of the truck. f f

Fig. 18 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 19 is a small steel strapwith a hook typ slot-cut on the side of same downwarcktowards the center for hooking one enclr of theispringfr which pulls the lower section of the truck updeeivaiionai view refine. siiaing ward against the sliding shoe'wlchi'is fastened t to the top section of the truck.

20 is a side elevational view thereof.

ing part offthe verticalJ armffastenedtofaplatfrm,f which xisfastenedfiony top of the chassis ontcmvhich ithe tr-iick's l'are'fastened 1'and tilt-edito thee-right for right'fhand 'trninglor 'ftheflscooter shbwing the position`1 taken '-b'y 'the'l wheels 'turning th'eefrontfwheels to"'-righ't" and 'the back -wheelsvtoI the-1eft inf a i serniicinsl' positiony to that of the front set ofewheels (rightih'and'tul'n isconsidered] when-f incuntedf-or' 'riding the scooter) Y Fig: 22 is a front-elevation of :thescootershow- `ing part of thefvertic'al `armfasteriewto amlat- `form' which is-fastened on""top`0f"the4 chassis onto which thetrucks arel fastened; andt'tilted to the left for lefthand'turninfgfof':thescooter showing' the position taken' byjthe wheels `fastened to the 'truckofmy invention'.` n

Fig. 23 is a plan View of the"scooter"'showing 'thepositiorrtaken -by `the -bottoni member offthe front and back trucks which supports "th'e wheels when-the vertical-arm' withrhandles is tilted* to the right for right hand turning.

Figi" 24 'is a 'plan View 'of-fthe' scooter 'showing vthe position taken' by'y 4the Vbottom memberof the frontand back trucks which' supports *the 'wheels when' the vertical armwith 'handles tilted lto theleft Ifi'nrleft 'handturning'of ithescooter.' 4

Similar reference Vcharacters indicating" and describingl the corresponding" parts throughout 'the several 'views' in` the drawings are'm given below:

In the drawings, I designatesa'baseor'fbed commonly knownras afplatform; which `may' be constructedJn of wood' or metalfmounted ont a chasser?` Jwhich supports asemi=soft *rubberp'ad l i." Said "chassis is nfiounted*ontwc'itrii'ckslof theisame'construction, one'fastenedto'andiundr the front end of the chassis and one to'an'd under 'the-l back end of "the" chassis; 'Ech-truck"sup ports ytwo'wheels.' YIn''the'drawings; 4` designates a corrugated"rubber'mat"onvtopj of the. scooter which is transmitted from the trucks 3 and chassis 2 to platform l when riding over rough pavement.

In the drawings, 2 represents a Stringer or 5 chassis onto which is fastened with adhesive or otherwise the shock absorbing rubber pad Il, under the chassis is fastened the trucks 3. The chassis 2 with rubber pad Il and with trucks 3 fastened to same, is screwed to and under the l0 :platform I byrmeans `off.'screws1l2. The chassis 'alsoiactsfaeP arzi'einforcingi means to the platform, preventing same from sagging at the center when riding same. It also serves to raise the base or ,platform higher from the trucks, allowing` a V"l'.i'greater"clearai'ice between the said platform I v and'wheelsa-particularly when tilting the vertical f arm with the platform when making a turn.

*I-li'e-trucks'ime made of stamped steel, and dividedcinto two parts or sections, the top 3A 20 and the lower I3 held together by means of an 1inclifi'iedfking1-bbltfor-pin- |41- The top section of the-*truck* 3A consists of'veiseparately made parts;- inamely; -the'iflanged'- inclined channel shaped body SA-thefinvertedfu Jshapehanger 20,

25the sliding -'shoe 13.5? and two hook-type lugs 31,

on'eon `each side of the'iinged ends of the in clined 'channel sha-peerbody3 :5N-for supporting oneend of fthe/pullingsprings, A

The body-'3AI ofY 'theiopisection offtheftruck 'is fastened A toth'e *Stringer or-chassis by means of boltsi 5 and 'fl f-withwashers i l Bf The heads of said bolts-with Twashers areecoun'ters'unk into fthe: top parti of thech'assis'slibwn'in Fi'gsl, 5,

andl 6i A3avv Thesides ofA theftop'seetionfo thetruck 3A are bentiverticailye". The longest or? backend is bent to'approniriiately F8015degrees;l atid""th"e' front or fshort'endgisfbentitoapproximately' 8B degrees; as Vclearly show-nf inhFigi 51-and'-Fig.-8 or aV similar 4oinangedrchannei shape-= withtha-back'I end being deepen-or;lori-gervthan'ftne iront end? as-'shown 'inFigs 42.37;: 'an'd'so thatfthe'lor orebottom part I1 of the channel shape willfib'ef-iciined at an:angiefofapproximately*dgrees `between 40 ihesfrem aan beeldend;` asfsiiowriinfthe side'eievatmnioffsame'firrF-*igia and Figf'vf 'ilie'two 'top ends ofothe fchannel'lshape or vertical-ends are Ibent .1 outward hovizontallyllas @anges I8 shown in'Figs; 6.23,? and' Q'iwfithhbleslconveniently 0 armed: ierfforfastenmg .the trunkfto--thefchassis -wini bons 4ifi-mici :temi Theinciindifieor Orbetltomfparty of the'channel .'shap tuckfbbdyisfconvenientlyi driledfwith two lhol'esf-M for bblting i'rhe'flongestnorfbackends.'of theisidesfof 'the tonsection'I or ftlievtrucksrA i isbent 'vertically to approximately 80 degrees, and bent so, thatit wilbea degrees less thanfthe'ffrontverticatshort ends', and` in. so doingthe flangedfendsiare ispread outwardflaterally .thebackf'or longendsaclittle more. thanfthe-frontorf shortvfends, vas -shown 'in Fig. 8y and.llig..9i` i IThis-additional spread-.fof the back-ends ofithe.vertioally` bent walls oflthe channelshaped-top section truck-body 3Afacts 5 as"a kn'ee' b'race reinforcing. meanseto. prevent lateralbendin'g'of the top section of .the-trucks,

when tiltingth'e 'verticalflarmfwith the platform for making turns. A

and 1112 is 'an'in'verted U-shapestiap'steel fastened reihe-*neer Eorth'etop section truck body-3A with a? slbtffcut ivertically'into "each 'of the two"hangirig eniisZ Il i Into'- thesey slots? slides vertically at an angle-foi' approximately'-'45i'degreesa king bolt or pin'fl 4W-hich supports`-the bottom section of the truck I 3 which supports the wheels. The hanger is made of strap steel'of La heaviergauge than the top section or. body 13Av of the truck. It is made of heavier gauge to takeV care of the wearing effect due tothe continuoussliding vertically into the slot 2`I of the steel king pin- I4 which is held in the -slotsby :means ofcotter, pin 22. Two holes 40 is drilled'into the bottom of the inverted U-shape piece hanger .20 for fastening to the top of the inclined floor part of the' top channel shape truck body 3A. f

lIn the drawings, 23 designates a sliding steel shoe, shown in Figs. 4, k5, 6, 16, 17, and 18. It is properly bent to fity over' the bottom outside p art ofthe top section truokb'ody 3A. Said shoe is suitably drilled with holes 42 countersunk on the outside part of the shoe, for fastening same to the top section truck body 3A by means of flat head bolts 24.` The flat heads" of the bolts fit evenly into the countersunk holes 42 without projecting out of same, so that said heads will not interfere with thezsliding motion of the shoe over the top of the bottom orA moveable section of the truck I3 as shown in Figs.y 4, 5and 6.

The at head bolts '24 hold together three of the component parts offthe top section of the truck 3A namely the an'ged channel shape body 3A, the hanger or inverted Ufshape part 23 and the sliding shoe 23.

The lower section ofsthe trucks I3 are made of stamped steel bent in a semi-rectangular box shape as shown in Figs.,13, 14, and 15. The top ends are bent overlapping one another as shown in Figs. f4, 13, and 14'with two tongue shaped projecting ends or lugs 26 bent downward at right angle to the rectangular box shaped body, shown in Figs. 4, '5, 6, 13 and 14 and a hole turn, either to right or left; orin so `doingthe back set of wheels will angle inthe opposite direction to that `ofthe front set of wheels, or a semi-circle arrargeinentv of turning of the lower section f thefrohttruck and the lower section of the back `truck as shown in Fig. 23 K andFig. 24. k y

The trucks being the'steering means lfor the scooter, a turn is made by tilting the vertical arm 1 jointly with 'lIAfholdinghandles laterally therefrom Ill either tothe right for right vhandturn or to the left for leftY hand turn. 'Il'ietiltingof the Vertical arm which is fastened to the top of the platform by means of a floor type ange and screws 6 together with the rubber shockjabsorbing pad Il and the chassis 2 with the top` secy tion of the truck 3A fastenedtosame, ispermit- 21 drilled in the center of Aeach tongue shaped ends 26 for supporting axle 28. A hole 30 is drilled in the center of the rectangular box shaped body for pivotally supporting the king pin I4.

In the drawing, 29 designates a filler or tubular member in between the two tongue shaped axle supports 26 thru which passes the axle 28 and acts as areinforcingmeans, when the axle with wheels are tightly fastened to said axle holder. This ller orjtubular member, prevents the two tongue shaped axle 'supports 26 from bending laterally, or,'it takescare offthe lateral strain or load on thetwo axle holders 26 when tilting the vertical bar together with platform for making turns; thus making same rigid, and equalizing the load on the two lugs 26 at the same time.

The lower sectionof .the truck I3 is held in place inside between the two sides of the inverted U-shape piece 20 of the top section of the truck by means of a king pin I4 inserted thru the slots cut longitudinally in the center of the inverted U-shape piece and thru the hole 30 drilled in the center of the lower section of the truck, shown in Figs. 4, 5, 13, 14, and 15. The king pin I4 is held in place inside of the two slots cut into the hanging ends of the inverted U-shape piece by means of a cotter pin 22. Each lower section of the trucks carry a pair of rubber cushion tire wheels 3| held in place by an axle 28 aixed to axle holder or carrier 26 by lock washer 32 and nut 33.

The truck at the back end of the scooter is exactly the same as the one in the front end, with the exception that it is bolted to the chassis in the opposite position to that of the front, whereby when the platform l is tilted laterally by means of the Vertical arm, the axle V28 with the wheels 3I will be forced to angle for making a ted by the sliding motion of the lower'memberof the trucks vI3 which witha king pin I4 slides up and down at an angle vof 45 degrees inthe slot openings 2| into the inverted U-shape piece of the top member of thetrucks. This operation will force to turn the lower sectionof th'etruck carrying wheels, turns v,

' The lower section ofthe trucks I3is'cons`t`antly `held in a straight position, for straightrunning of the scooter,Y by means of two steel wire springs 34 on each truckshown in Figs. 1, 2, 4,' 5', andY 6. These springs 4are always in pulling. tension, whereby constantly keeping the top nat overlap ping bearing part 'of Ythe lower tr'iick section, rmly against the fslidingshoe 23 of the top'section of thetruck. This is the normal position of the lower section oftheftruck for straight'running of the scooter. Onevnd of the springs 34 is hooked in a small-hole 35 drilled in the center of the two overlapping ends 'of-the lower sectionof the trucks carrying wheels,r or theturning section, shown in Figs. 4,' 13, 14, vand 15. f

The top ends of thesprings 34 at 36 are each hooked into a small lug or strip of strap steel 3'I with an openslot 4dcut atone end diagonally from the side downwardtowards the center and leading towards a stopV hole M `inthe center of the lug at the bottom 'of'v the slot to keep the spring from sliding `out as shown in Fig. 19 and a hole 45 drilled at the other end of each lug for fastening same tothe two ends of the anges on the top section of thetrucksby means of the same bolts "I5A that astens theanges yto'the chassis clearly shownfin Fig. 4. Thesev small lugs or strips of strap steel31ho1ding the-top endof the springsiare'bent' in the center 46 at an. angle of approximately 45 degrees, to allow the spring to pull up exactly in center line with the lower section of the truck, or straight right angle pull from where the other end of the spring is hooked to holes 35.

When the platform with the chassis and the top member of the truck is tilted laterally to either direction, there are two bearing points that take place in this operation, between the sliding shoe of the top section of the truck and the lower section of the trucks, at 38 and 38.

These bearing points are shown in Figs. 21 and 22.

Fig. 21 shows a front elevation of the scooter with the platform I tilted laterally to the right together with the rubber pad Il, chassis 2, andy the top section of the truck 3A for right hand turning of the scooter (right hand turn is considered when mounted on same). In this mentioned tilted position it will be noticed that the bearing point between the sliding shoe of the top (to eitherl direction for making 'section-0f the trunk' sAand'the Alower for-turning "section I3 oflthe trucks'fis 'atSL tlius forcing theking'pin l 4 to" slide dwnward'in'the slots "2l Vwith*the-'lower'sectiori'ofthe truck I 3,`witl1` wheels 31,'"thus" forcing i'same" toL turn to the' rightas ing the platform, the .greater will. be thelturning -uperanonef thelower section @fthe truck, 'there- 'b'y' making a' sharper' turn: The .rever's'ep opera,-

with platformto* the left .for left "han'd turning,

andlinso doing the bearingpoint`w`ll be at 39 andin: either' Acaser one of "the pulling; springs 3 4 iscn'tracted while .the other is forced 'to' expand more. t t e 12 4Ascooter car of .the type described Acoi'hprisf ing a: chassis mounted ontwo trucksof 'the same construction,'oneat each end of the chassis, said trucks 'beinggrnounted in longitudinally, reversed p osition, eachtuclrfconsisting oan upper and a lower. section, f the ,upper section comprising. a

'flanged channel shaped member .having `tl'iabase `pingrelation. ,forming -a rectangular' box: shape open atfits ends,- and the-:baseffendz` pieces bent down at right` angle to form lugs; each of said lugs having ano'pening-ftherein, a'-tubularlmem zbeijfinse-rted `i1:i-.between` the two :lugsffandinfline with -theftwo openings ato. receivey afwheel :carrying axle; a transverseopeningfthrough the center 'of said box-frame; aikingf-boltadisposed: through Athe 'slots of said inverted-U-sliaped memberV of the -upper section and ithroughf` the opening@ in saidf rectangularb'ox frame: forming: a piwotfor thelatter; and ra f-pair ofsprings one7 endof each secured-lat l the cen-ter# of 'each end of: the upper portion of -said-b'ox^-frame, and their rotherends tolngs` `fastened to the Yaiflgesoff the; channel lshaped member i of "the top` section",y `.whereby 'the bottom `reetang-mar box Shapey framecarrying the anemie? wheels is urgeddagainst ksaidsteel-shoe fastened to the-upper channel 'shaped member.`

2. AA scooter carof the/type described compris# ing'a chassis consistingjofa'narrow Strip ofrigid materialen top of :whichY is axed'a strip of sponge rubber sandwiched' between "said chassis and an overlappingfcotboard, all fastened to.- geth'erasa unit, saidchassis'being"mounted on two trucks of th'e same construction, one ateach end of the chassis,` said trucks'beingmounted vin longitudinal reversedposition, and `a` plurality of spaced bolts for securing saidichassislontosaid trucks, each truck'consis'tingj-of ,an `upper and a lowerA section, ,the"upper` section comprising a anged. channel shaped menib'er having the base thereof'bent so the same is inclined'atanangle of approximately'li degrees with respectfto `the chassis, with the vertical wallsbf one endiat the flanges, spread outward more than the other, an inverted U-shape steel strap` member having a slot cut longitudinally in the center of each of the legs thereofsaid U-sl'iapemember 'being 'fastened to and hanging from the'inclinedlbase of saidV flanged channellsha'pe'member, a steel shoe of channel shape fastened to and below the base ci saidangedchannel shape member, and having the edges thereof nested aroundtheoutside Vertical walls of same, the lower truck section consisting of a, steel plate frame bent.to a rectangle box shape having 'the two sides .bent upwardand then overiin overlapping relation on top, and the end piecesof the b`ase'ben`t down at right angle toform. lugs; each .of'said lugs having an .openingthereiriA a tubular member' inserted to t inhetweenthe two lugs in linewith thel openings to receive a wheel .carryingaxla' a transverse opening through th'e. center of. the vertical Walls ofV said rectangular b'ox shape yframe, a king bolt disposed through the slots; of said inverted U-shapemember, and through .the transverse opening in said'rectangnlar boxl shape frame forming a sliding pivot for the latterat an angle of 45 'degrees in thes'lots cut' .longitudinally inthev center of said invertedU-shape member, and apair of springs, one end of each secured at Athe top ends of said boxshape frame,v rand their other ends `tovlfioolcshaped lugs fastened to the fianges of said channel shape member whereby the lowerbox shaped section carrying the' wheels, is urged against said 'steel shoe fastened to the flanged .channel shape' member. 

